Manchester United

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will be wanting to talk about the VAR decision that cost his team at the London Stadium, but the really important question is: what do co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth think about today's game?

United stuck with Ten Hag after his FA Cup final success against Manchester City last season.

I was told on Friday that the club still want the Dutchman to succeed, but he clearly needs to win matches to do that.

The club did not explicitly offer public backing during the international break earlier this month, so I am not anticipating they will do that in the wake of this defeat.

But, clearly, if the verdict is a negative one, we will know that soon enough.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the defeat at London Stadium: "Three times this season we feel injustice. We have to score, we created so many chances, we should have been two or three goals up.

"In the second-half, we were forcing it but we allowed them into the game. When you are losing 1-0, you need big personality and character in the team and we showed resilience to get back into it.

"It is unfair and unjust the way we conceded the penalty."

On the penalty decision: "It was so difficult to see. Before the season, there was the instruction about VAR only interfering in clear and obvious mistakes. That is definitely not a clear and obvious mistake from the on-field referee.

"More frustrations, but I can do nothing with that. They don't collect points and that is what we have to do. We have to look in the mirror. When you lose in this way it is a bad feeling."

On whether he has spoken to the officials yet: "I spoke with them but the decision is made. There is no way back and that is football.

"That is the third time I've felt injustice this season. It has a big impact on our team, on our scores and where we are in the table. It is not right."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on West Ham's performance, external

What did you make of Man Utd’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Four matches make up Sunday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Chelsea v Newcastle - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Crystal Palace v Tottenham - listen on the BBC Sport website

• West Ham v Man Utd - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Arsenal v Liverpool - 16:30 - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-offs 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction on our live page here

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week nine he takes on rapper Nemzzz, who supports Manchester United.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Things did not get any better for Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui with their defeat against Tottenham, and it seems he still doesn’t know what the 'West Ham way' is.

The Hammers need a big improvement, but this game is more about what Manchester United do and whether they turn up.

They were excellent in the second half of their win over Brentford last time out, but now they need to back it up, and for 90 minutes.

Can they do it? You just never know with Manchester United, and I've given up on backing them to beat anyone.

They are inconsistent and what doesn’t help is that they are playing in Turkey in the Europa League on Thursday night, so team selection and tiredness has to come into the equation too.

My daughter is doing some maths revision with me at the moment, working out the area of triangles - you multiply the height by the width, then halve it.

I can get all of those sums right, but I am always wrong about United, so I am going to let her make this prediction.

Nemzzz's prediction: 0-2

United to win. Am I confident? Definitely! Well, I hope so anyway.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

West Ham and Manchester United harboured ambitions of European qualification this season, but both sit in the bottom half of the Premier League after eight games.

With both Julen Lopetegui and Erik ten Hag coming under fire for their underwhelming starts, who needs a victory more when the two teams play each other on Sunday?

Former Hammers goalkeeper David James tells The Football News Show why he thinks Manchester United are a "glorified Tottenham" and why a win for West Ham would kickstart their season.

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says "we have to stay patient" with midfielder Manuel Ugarte as he continues to integrate into the team.

The 23-year-old Uruguay international, who joined from Paris St-Germain in the summer, has made four Premier League appearances so far, with three of those coming off the bench.

"You have to integrate them," said Ten Hag on Ugarte. "He came in late in the window and then we had to integrate him during the competitions, and that takes time.

"We have to stay patient but, as you see, if the quality in that position is not right it's very difficult for a team to control games - and then I don't even speak about dominating games.

"So, that position needs one who brings the quality all the time, and we have to integrate him now in this team.

"I'm pleased with his performance [against Fenerbahce] and from here on he can build up."

Image source, PA Media

Goalkeeper Andre Onana is confident Manchester United will score more goals in future games, after missing opportunities to beat Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday.

The 28-year-old said after the 1-1 draw: "It will come. Everything in life is temporary. It will come - if not today, it will be tomorrow.

"Also we, as defenders, have to take responsibility. We were leading and I start to question myself to do maybe things better - my defenders as well.

"I don't think we have to look at the strikers because they are trying. The chances are there and at the moment the ball is not going in the net, but it will come.

"We lose together. We win together."

Onana has played behind numerous central-defensive pairings this season, with Victor Lindelof partnering Matthijs de Ligt on Thursday, while full-back Noussair Mazraoui operated in a more attacking role in Turkey.

"I have no problem with any of my guys because I have the feeling when you wear this shirt, you have to be able to play each position for them," said the former Inter keeper.

"We had Mazraoui as number 10. I don't know if he wanted to play there, but for the team, you have to take it. And Casemiro did a lot of times last season.

"If I have to play striker, I will do it. So for the team, we have to be able to be pragmatic."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Thursday's Europa League game between Fenerbahce and Manchester United.

Here are some of your comments:

Iain: Another very poor performance from this team of misfits. There is no gameplan from the coaching staff or the manager. After two-plus years of abject rubbish, I would love to know about the plan moving forward. All we ever receive are excuses.

Mahir: It was a decent performance in a really tough atmosphere. Everyone - including myself - expected us to crumble. Full credit, we stuck through it and were unlucky not to win. It has been a while since we have seen a controlled match. Good progress, now it's time to get those goals.

Al: Another strange team selection! What on earth is Mazraoui doing in the number 10 role when we have Eriksen at six? Zirkzee is the latest in a long line of flops. It is sad to see this once great club struggling to keep our heads above water against average opposition.

Christine: Ugarte had a great game - he was solid in central midfield and broke most of the attacks up. The team are fluid in parts, but they are still below Premier League levels. Onana was brilliant, even though they scored. The blame fell to Dalot, who did not defend the goal. I keep hoping that we are on the road to better things but, after this display, we have a long way to go.

Krrish: We need this manager to be replaced right now. He is playing the wrong players in the wrong positions, making incorrect substitutions, the list goes on... I have supported Erik ten Hag but he is overthinking it and is confused. We need the change as soon as possible.

Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee could return on loan to Serie A, after netting just one goal in 11 appearances for the Red Devils, with Juventus the most likely destination for the 23-year-old. (Tuttosport via TeamTalk), external

Besiktas are keen on the possibility of taking Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin on loan, with Manchester United, Newcastle United and Arsenal also interested in the England international. (Fotomac in Turkish), external

Meanwhile, United boss Erik ten Hag has expressed an interest in activating a £16m buy-back clause in Spain Under-21 left-back Alvaro Fernandez's contract at Benfica. (Express), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

The delight...

Image source, Getty Images

The disappointment...

Image source, Getty Images

And the double saves...

Image source, Getty Images

On a night when Manchester United again failed to win in Europe after taking the lead having won just one of their past eight such games in European competition when scoring first (D5 L2).

Image source, Getty Images

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It was a fantastic game to watch. Erik ten Hag has a depleted squad, but his team have come out here tonight and shown attitude.

"He can take a lot of positives from tonight."

Former Manchester United coach, Rene Meulensteen, added: "Manchester United kept the ball well and Erik ten Hag made some changes which worked well.

"If they look back over that game, with the hostile environment they will be a bit disappointed as the game was there for the taking.

"If it had been a boxing match then Manchester United would have won on points.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag: "Two tough away games. Of course when you are taking the lead, it [drawing] shouldn’t happen.

"We had chances to make a second goal, disappointed not to win. At Old Trafford we have to win games."

On if it was Manuel Ugarte's best performance for United so far: "Yes, I think so. He has to come into the team. The six role is very important. He has to learn how we play. I was happy with his performance today.

On why there was no Amad Diallo from the start: "Away from Europe to start with four attackers is too much. I made him [Mazraoui] a full-back. He was always a number 10. I knew he could fill in with that role, he had a big role in the goal. You can always move him back. Antony is training very good. Amad had some good actions."

On the result: "Fenerbahce are a very good club, with very good fans and some good players. It would be a very good final.

"We should keep the ball better in the first half. We should score more goals but to be honest they also created good chances. They gave us some problems. They are a good team with a good manager. It is not a bad point. But we want to win, we want to win every game."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, speaking to TNT Sports: “It is a big disappointment for me and the fans, for the club, as a Manchester United player you have an obligation to try to win.

"It is what we tried to do today, but we also have to recognise it is a tough place to win.

"We didn’t win, but at least we didn’t lose, Not happy of course, but we move on, take responsibility and go again.

“We had more control than them in the second half and more chances. We conceded an early goal in the second half, we had to show character and I think that is what we did. We didn’t win but I thought we were better than them."

On his superb double save: “The saves are not important, the most important thing is the victory for the team.

"It is nice if I make those kinds of saves and the team wins, [but] it is a big disappointment [to draw]."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have won just one of their past 11 matches in major European competition (D5 L5).

They are now winless in six European matches (D4 L2), their joint longest ever such run (also a run of six without a win between 1980-1983).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on United’s performance, external

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies